Fw: Appoint Science-Based Leadership for FWC

[Guest guest]

Appoint Science-Based Leadership for FWC

Save the Manatee Club

Ask Governor Crist to Appoint

New FWC Commissioners

Ensure Balanced and Science-Based Leadership

on Manatee Protection Issues

 

Appointed by Florida's governor, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission (FWC) is governed by seven commissioners who set the rules,

direction, and vision for this important natural resources agency. Three of

the commissioner's terms will expire in August and a fourth commissioner's

term will expire in January. However, only a handful of the present list of

applicants has any biological background or leadership experience on

wildlife habitat protection issues. Most are related to construction

business or hunting and fishing interests.

 

Please send a quick online letter now and urge Florida Governor Charlie

Crist to ensure the FWC has balanced and science-based leadership.

http://www.savethemanatee.org/actionalert.cfm?id=20

The decisions the commissioners make are crucial. You may recall that in

June 2006, the FWC voted to downlist manatees in Florida, using

listing/delisting criteria that set the bar way too high for manatees and

other rare Florida species to retain their endangered status. And the FWC is

currently on the verge of approving a management plan that will not ensure

adequate protection for manatees.

 

What You Can Do:

Act Now! Tell Governor Crist the following qualifications are important to

you. FWC Commissioners should:

Have a background in biological sciences.

Have a proven track record of working to protect Florida's ecosystems.

Include greater diversity.

Make conservation of Florida's wildlife their first priority.

Please urge Governor Crist to appoint commissioners with experience in

wildlife protection issues. Click on the link below to get more information

and to send a quick and easy online letter on this issue.

 

http://www.savethemanatee.org/actionalert.cfm?id=20

 

If you prefer to send a personal message, contact information for Governor

Crist is listed below:

 

Governor Charlie Crist

PL-05 The Capitol

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Phone: 850-488-7146

Fax: 850-487-0801

Webform: www.flgov.com/contact_form

 

 

Thank you for your help on this important issue for manatees!